ho hum

So, I have this nice cycleops trainer and the little thing for the front wheel. It is in good condition and a guy I work with is also into cycling and I offer to trade him some stuff for it because I cannot stand to ride on the thing in the house. I'd rather go out and freeze off my appendages (well, maybe not all of them)

Anyway, we talked and decide to trade some stuff. I was looking for tires, jerseys, brake levers to build a touring bike with, some cables for STI shifters or some long canti brakes. I didn't want all of the stuff for the trainer but hoped I could pick up some of the stuff for it and was looking for used parts as I was being a tightwad building my touring bike.

So, I get 3 jerseys from him, two sets of 23 mm tires (used). I went by his department and started talking bike talk with him and told him about some stuff I was reading and asked him about whether or not he had any lines on the brakes or cables and he got irritated. I asked him if he knew of any of the other stuff and what he thought the value of everything was and he got pi**ed off, brought back the trainer and has been acting irritated since...

When you trade, aren't you supposed to haggle a little? I mean, isn't that half the fun of doing it? I would have enjoyed him saying naw, my jersey cost this much and the tires are in real good condition and we're even.

I guess I need to give him back his stuff too? It was as weird of a conversation as I have had in some time...

johnny99

If I have stuff that I don't want and a good friend could use it, then I will give it away. No trading. No haggling. Haggling between friends is childish.

ho hum

Hanging head in shame... Now I feel bad... got a box of tissues?

Come on... Have you ever been to Mexico or Indonesia? Man, everything is negotiatable. Plus, why wouldn't he have some stuff laying about that he might want to part with too?

I guess I need to get more sensitive or maybe I could wrap it up in a box and give it to him for Christmas!

ho hum

I've never felt as if he considered me as a friend. He is an obviously better rider than me and I might just be an irritation.

I've been reading the Should I? thread... I am a relative newbie and he team races. Maybe he sees me as a new, enthused bike dork. I guess I'll just have to keep after my riding so I can become worthy to associate with him.

Retro Grouch 

Haggling is a fine art. Over do it, by even a tiny bit, and you usually queer the whole deal. I'm guessing that somewhere along the way you missed some signs he gave you that went from "This is a win, win deal." to "I'm giving him a good deal." to "He's just being greedy.". Next time spend way more time talking about how wonderful the stuff you're giving up is and less time talking about what he's giving you.

55/Rad

The problem is he apparently thought the deal was done and you didn't. Simple misunderstanding. When you exchange the goods and leave things foggy and open, especially when one side of the deal is several "possible" items, this is what's going to happen.

Clarity of communication is key.

55/Rad